December 2006 California Today, PLanning and Conservation League Newsletter

8/3/2019 December 2006 California Today, PLanning and Conservation League Newsletter

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CALIFORNIA TODAYCALIFORNIA TODAYNewsletter of the Planning & Conservation Le

he Trust for Public Land

December 2006 Volume 36, Number 4

Read about the Tejo

Protected San Bernardino FarBy: Chuck Hale

in the County. SCALF’s goal has alwaysbeen to protect these farmlands in perpetuity.We thought that vision was also shared bythe County, but it now turns out that theCounty has a different vision - a vision thatwill unravel our 17 year public-privatepartnership.

Though SCALF has a stellar record formanaging the acquired properties, theCounty has let its contract with theFoundation lapse. And unfortunately, theCounty has not complied with its promisesto the State to place permanent conservationeasements over the agricultural landspurchased with Proposition 70 funds,

despite the clear requirements of the law.The County has received and expendednearly $20 million of state bond fundswith clear restrictions on its use. Theyhave made a commitment to protectpermanently these agricultural lands, andthis commitment must be honored. PCLand SCALF are “on the case,” and will dowhatever is needed to ensure this agriculturallegacy. Contact PCL if you’d like to help!

The Chino Valley today isn’t quite what it used to be.Instead of farmlands and dairy operations as far as the eye cansee, the Valley is being quickly consumed by the latest style of cookie-cutter houses and cement walled industrial complexes.

In an effort to protect San Bernardino County’s farmlands,and to provide protection for other important lands throughoutthe state, the Planning and Conservation League (PCL)sponsored Proposition 70, the CALPAW initiative, nearly 20years ago. This proposition made funding available for the

permanent protection of agricultural lands in theInland Empire. The SouthernCalifornia Agricultural LandFoundation (SCALF), a longtime organizational member

of the PCL Board of Directors, was initiated tohelp pass Proposition 70 andto make sure its provisionswere carried out.

Since the passage of Proposition 70, SCALFand the County of SanBernardino have acquiredover 370 acres of farmlands

al Poly Pomona


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The upcoming legislative session is going to be full of new opportunities -not only because the Governor will be kicking off a whole new term, havingcampaigned strongly on the need for environmental protection - but alsobecause there are lots of new members in both the State Senate and the State

Assembly. New members always mean new opportunities, and we’re movingahead with lots of positive thoughts and positive projects.You’ll read on page five about a stimulating meeting we held with newly

elected State Senator Alex Padilla. Senator Padilla (who represents NortheastL.A. and the San Fernando Valley) immediately identified the proper use of bond monies as one of the key issues he’ll be working on next year. That’s ahigh priority for us, too! PCL will be joined by many other environmental andenvironmental justice groups as we work with Senator Padilla, and otherlegislators, to make sure thatbond funds are directed atthe critical and long ignored

environmental problems sufferedby many of our urban communities,including putting parks into oururban neighborhoods.

I am also particularly happyto report that we’re workingclosely with Greenbelt Alliance,the Transportation and Land Use Coalition, the Nonprofit HousingAssociation of Northern California, and Urban Habitat to make sure thatProposition 1C Affordable Housing funds are directed to the kind of urbaninfill projects that meet “smart growth” and social equity goals. The upcominglegislative session, and budget deliberations, will give us a great chance toestablish a new set of land use and planning priorities that will reshape ourfuture. Please let me know if you’d like to get involved!

Gary A. PattonExecutive Director

CALIFORNIA TODAY • Planning and Conservation League & PCL Foundation

CALIFORNIA TODAY (ISBN 0739-8042)is the quarterly newsletter of the

PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUEAND THE PCL FOUNDATION

1107 Ninth Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814

PHONE: 916-444-8726 FAX: 916-448-1789

E-MAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS:http://www.pcl.org

Membership in PCL is $35 a year and includes asubscription to CALIFORNIA TODAY.

Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, CA.POSTMASTER: Send address changes for CALIFORNIA TODAY to the PCL Office:1107 Ninth Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814

PCLF BOARD OF TRUSTEESDAVID HIRSCH, ChairmanRALPH B. PERRY III, Vice ChairmanDANIEL S. FROST, Secretary-Treasurer COKE HALLOWELL, TrusteeGERALD H. MERAL, Trustee

ARMANDO RODRIGUEZ, Trustee

PCL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEJOHN VAN DE KAMP, PresidentBILL YEATES, First Vice PresidentKEVIN JOHNSON, Senior Vice PresidentSAGE SWEETWOOD, President EmeritusBILL CENTER, Secretary-Treasurer

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTSELISABETH BROWNAN CHATTEN-BROWNPHYLLIS FABER RICK FRANK DOROTHY GREENRICK HAWLEY DOUG LINNEY DAVID MOGAVEROLYNN SADLER TERESA VILLEGAS

PETER WEINER

ORGANIZATIONAL BOARD MEMBERSBig Sur Land TrustBreathe California, Sacramento-Emigrant TrailsCalifornia Association of Local Conservation CorpsCalifornia Oaks FoundationCalifornia TroutGreenspace - The Cambria Land TrustGolden Gate Audubon Society The Laguna Greenbelt, Inc.Marin Agricultural Land TrustMarin Conservation LeagueMountain Lion FoundationSierra Nevada AllianceSouthern California Agricultural Land FoundationTrain Riders Association of CaliforniaThe Trust for Public Land

PCL/PCL FOUNDATION STAFF GARY A. PATTON, Executive Director RENÉ GUERRERO, Project Manager - Legislative AdvocateDR. MONICA HUNTER, Central Coast Water Project Manager MINDY McINTYRE, Water Program Manager JONAS MINTON, Senior Water Policy Advisor GERALD PEREZ, Administrative Director MATT VANDER SLUIS, Project Manager - Legislative AdvocateCHRIS WARD, Database Manager MELANIE SCHLOTTERBECK, Grants & Outreach Consultant

2

Dear Friends,

alifornia AffiliateNational Wildlife Federation

PCL is in the process of hiring a Global Warming Project Managerfor its California Climate Outreach Campaign. This staff member willgenerate an active and informed network of supporters, and advocatefor effective legislation and administrative action at the regional andnational levels, among other duties. If you are interested in learning more,email Gary Patton for a complete job description at [email protected] g .

Global Warming



The Trust for Public Land The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a PCL

organizational Board member and works nationwide toconserve land for people. Founded in California in1972, TPL promotes a conservation program that hasprotected some of the nation’s most iconic landscapesand recreational resources. In California alone, TPLhas permanently protected more than 573 propertiestotaling about 333,400 acres, or roughly 520 squaremiles.

TPL prides itself on preserving a broad diversityof landscapes that range from the wide open spaces of the Sierra Nevada to Laguna Beach (photo shownupper right) to the pocket parks of inner city LosAngeles, and is one of the only land conservationorganizations in the country that works in urban areas

to provide everyone - regardless of race, income, orethnicity - equal access to parks,playgrounds, and open space. On anational scale, TPL has helped create,renovate, or establish more than 600urban parks.

Countless neighborhoods in thestate’s urban core have no access tosafe parks, with urban areas so denselypopulated that half an acre of openspace provides the only readilyaccessible recreational resource forthousands of residents. For example, 66 percent of children in Los Angeles County do not live withinwalking distance to a public park. Furthermore, manyurban parks within these communities are so poorlymaintained that they cannot be used at all. Similarscenarios exist within the San Francisco Bay Area,where creating “Parks for People” is a TPL priority.

TPL lists recent Parks for People successes asincluding the acquisition of sites for future parks in

Maywood along the Los Angeles River, in the industrialcity of El Monte(photo shown

S u z a n n e

M o s s ,

T P L

center), and in the Avocado Heights neighborhood.At the Bertha Port Park in West Oakland and at theIndia Basin Shoreline Park in San Francisco, TPL hasworked with the community to transform unkemptand uninviting lots into vibrant new spaces with playstructures and picnic tables (photo shown bottom left).

As with all TPL projects, success rests with buildingthe right relationships with partners throughout thestate. TPL has been an organizational member of thePlanning and Conservation League for many years

because PCL is a primary partner in this effort. TheTrust for Public Land shares PCL’svision of park equity and access, andembraces the idea that new parks,playgrounds, and urban open spacesprovide underservedcommunities with a sense hope andrenewal. This year, TPL was proud topartner with PCL in support of theUrban Park Act of 2006, a legislativemeasure that strengthens California’scommitment to providing new parks

where none currently exist. Numerous organizationsstatewide, including TPL and the Planning andConservation League, will support the funding of thisand other park programs through Proposition 84, the2006 water bond approved by voters in November.

Partnerships with PCL and other conservationgroups allow The Trust for Public Land to continue tocreate new parks in the most park-poor neighborhoods,and revitalize parks in the most underserved areas of

California, ensuring land for people throughout ourGolden State.

C l a r e B r a n d t ,

T P L

“PCL has sponsored many open space measures and continues to ensure the public has access to natural lands!”

-- Rachel Dinno, PCL Board member

M e l a n i e

S c h l o t t e r b e c k

R a c h e l D

i n n o


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Jared Huffman (6th AssemblyDistrict) has a strong backgroundin environmental issues. As a SeniorAttorney for the Natural ResourcesDefense Council (NRDC) and as

a 12 year Board member for theMarin Municipal Water District,

Assemblymember-elect Huffman advocated for sustainablestate and federal water policies while also engaged inprotecting California’s rivers, focusing especially on theSan Joaquin River.

According to Jared, global warming is at the top of his priority list. PCL is confident he will be an innovatorand facilitator of new energy technologies to createemission reduction programs and offer incentives forinvestments in efficient, renewable, and cleaner burning fuels.

Water issues are another area of concern. Fromurban water conservation to reclamation strategies anddesalination, Assemblymember-elect Huffman will usehis leadership, experience, and ideas to advance criticallegislation. We welcome him to the State Capitol.

Welcome to the Legislature! By: René Guerrero

She is back! Former AssemblymemberPatricia Wiggins has now been electedto represent the 2nd District in theCalifornia State Senate. Her previouswork in the Assembly includes founding

the Legislature’s Smart Growth Caucusand chairing the Local Governmentand Banking Committees. She also authored legislationthat promoted mixed-use development, and increasedfunding for agricultural protection. In that role, she wasresponsible for the most comprehensive state land useplanning legislation in the last 30 years. Known asAssembly Bill 857, it set California’s spending prioritiesfor future growth to disallow sprawl while promotingcompact and infill development, and greater socialequity.

As a Senator, we can expect as much and more. Shewill reinstate the Smart Growth Caucus in the Senate;continue her work in providing safe and reliable watersupplies to families, and in restoring and protectingwatersheds and woodlands.

The Planning and Conservation League welcomes Assemblymember Jared Huffmanand welcomes back Senator Patricia Wiggins to the State Legislature.We are anxious to work with them, and with all their new colleagues!

Jared

Huffman

A New Paradigm for Coastal and MarineBy: Monica Hunter, Ph.D.

The sound of water splashed by a steelhead troutswimming upstream is like none other. It is a soundthat many who work tirelessly at wildlife protectionyearn to hear. For those who have had the chance actuallyto get their feet wet, to experience the exhilaration of a successful day on a river restoring habitat, or helpingto clean up a stream - it is all about the wildlife. Andwhat’s good for wildlife is even better for people.

To restore habitat, critical links between land andsea must be understood - and changes made! California’snew marine policy program will lead to increases inthe number and kinds of species living in the coastalenvironment, and provide for improved habitat. The oil,trash, and other inland debris that washes to the oceanand degrades our marine environment will be trackedto its source - and stopped. When the origin of debrisis unknown, it is called nonpoint source pollution, andthis type of pollution is the leading cause of our degraded

water quality. This same polluted water closes ourfamous beaches and also ruins the harbors, bays, andwetlands we all care about.

California has led the nation in protecting coastaland ocean resources. But there is still work to be done.That is why PCLF is actively working on these issues,and hopes to expand its Central Coast program. If funding is obtained, our program will forge links between

the goals of the Marine Life Protection Act and grassrootsaction - to provide better protection for water resources.With your support of PCLF’s essentialwork, California wi l lcontinue its premiereocean conservationprogram and set thebar nationwide.

D.J. Funk, Upper Salinas-Las Tablas RC



Making Good Law By: John Van de Kamp

I have spent most of my lifeengaged with the law, in its variousaspects. Recently, I served as Presidentof the California State Bar. I’m probablybetter known as the Attorney General

of the State of California (83-91) and asthe District Attorney of Los AngelesCounty (75-83), where I grew up andstill live. I practice law privately (serving

now primarily as an arbitrator and mediator), and I head or serveon a number of advisory bodies and commissions entrusted withimproving various aspects of our justice system. And since Januaryof 2006 I’ve been President of PCL.

In my 70 years, I’ve been a long term supporter of wildernesspreservation, and as Attorney General was able to help stop oildrilling off the coast and the continuing spoliation of Lake Tahoe.The achievements we obtained were through recourse to the law.

I believe that California government should be directed mainlyto what I think of as its central task: making good laws and puttingthose laws to the use intended. Our laws define us. They are, in avery real way, the mechanism by which we decide, through a democraticprocess, what we ought to do, as a society, as we confront a worldthat is every day more daunting and complex.

Global warming, to pick one issue (and onethat PCL is working on with great determination)places both the natural and human world atrisk. We need to change course, in this area andothers, and by enacting good laws - laws that

set clear, consistent, and achievable standards -we tell ourselves exactly what we need to do tomeet the challenges of our times. And once weenact good laws, they must be implemented ingood faith.

For over 40 years, PCL has been working toenact good laws - laws that protect andpreserve our incomparable natural environment,that strengthen the long term health of oureconomy, that engage our citizens, and help

advance our social equity goals.There has been no time, in its long history,

that PCL and its work in the State Legislaturehas been more vital. On behalf of the PCLBoard of Directors, I thank you for yourengagement and assistance - now and in thefuture!

ohnVandeKam

p

First Two Legislative MeetingBy: Melanie Schlotterbeck

Sign up at www.PCL.org today to learn about future legislative meetings!

Alex Padilla has been engaged inenvironmental and civic activismsince he was fifteen years old, whenhe and his family worked to shutdown a local landfill. He has servedon the Los Angeles City Councilsince 1999, and is one of the manynew Legislators on his way toSacramento.

In November, PCL hosted a legislative meetingwith Senator-elect Padilla, one in a series of meetingsthat PCL is sponsoring throughout the state, toprovide a necessary link between local environmentaland community groups and members of theLegislature. Senator-elect Padilla heard from hisconstituents about goods movement, sprawl-typedevelopment, water resources, and watershed restoration.He specifically mentioned his interest in making surethat recently passed bonds do not contribute to unwisegrowth patterns or increase pollution.

Senator Bob Margett (29th Senate District) heardfrom local environmental groups on a host of issues,from a recent 1,262 acre addition to Chino Hills StatePark to watershed-wide invasive plant control efforts.

The Claremont Wildlands Conservancy told theSenator of its success in passing a funding measureto preserve Johnson’s Pasture, which links togetherimportant parklands. Hills For Everyone helped passOrange County’s Measure M, supported by PCL, whichprovides over $243 million for habitat acquisition. TheLos Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Councilreported on its studies to protect water quality in LosAngeles County and to educatecitizens on pollution prevention.

Senator Margett offered toassist the groups meeting withhim on several water relatedprojects. Kudos to bothSenator Padilla and Margettfor their time and enthusiasm!

MeaneSchoerbeck


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Connecting a California LandsBy: Terry Watt

Imagine a landscape of unparallelednatural beauty that unites the crispfeatures of the Mojave Desert, thegrandeur of the Sierra Nevada, therich texture of the Central Valley, andthe serenity of the Pacific Coast. Couldsuch a place really exist?

Yes, it could exist and it does. Notonly does this collage of forestedmountain slopes, rocky cliffs, widevalleys, and flowing streams exist, but

it is also neatly nestled between theexpanding metropolis of Los Angelesand the Bread Basket of California.

This landscape stretches across theTehachapi Range unimpeded by tracthomes and the latest super center. Itis one of the few places where the

The Trust for Public

collision of tectonicplates has createdan east-westmountainousconnection betweenour coast and theglorious Range of Light.

Known as theTejon Ranch, and one of California’s most valuable

unprotected landscapes, itencompasses over 270,000 acres. Itsrich array of grasslands, orchards,historic oak woodlands, and Joshuatrees provide animals great andsmall with the largest expanse of contiguously owned private property

in the state.Few roads

traverse thisremarkable backdrop.This undevelopedland allows herdsof mule deer toroam the hills andthe valleys freely andprovides a safe havenfor cougars andbadgers to thrive.The Tejon Ranchhas seen ranching

activities dating back over the last100 years, but recently the landowners

have proposed developing portionsof the property into homes andshopping centers.

Efforts to protect the naturalareas and spectacular resources of the Tejon Ranch have begun. Somefeel this is an opportunity to limitdevelopment, while others wish tomaintain its unequaled diversity of plants and animals and provide aremarkable gift, a legacy, for futuregenerations of Californians.

I encourage you to soak up thebeauty of this graceful landscapethe next time you drive Interstate 5near the Grapevine. I would alsoencourage you to support PCL’sefforts to ensure this natural legacyis protected for you, for yourchildren, and your grandchildrenforever. T

h e T r u s t f o r P u b l i c L a n d

“California comes together in the Tehachapi’s - preserving the Tejon Ranch from sprawl development is Job #1 for

California environmentalists!” -- Joe Edmiston,

PCL Board member

J o e E d m i s t o n



I’ve been a river runner for 35 years. As surely asrivers shape canyons, they shape my life and lives aroundme. And we shape rivers, for better and worse.

During the past month I have been on an intenseriver-shaping trip with two dozen people, a river tripunlike any other. Talked about for the last six years in astrange land called “relicensing,” when you get this editionof California Today, we will have cleared the last biggorge. Beat up by bureaucratic rocks andpolitical whitewater, we’ve stuck together,through rapids ever more intense,chasing river bends through the mist asthe canyon twists and turns.

Yes, this is a metaphorical journey,but the river is very real. Starting high inthe Sierra just this side of Lake Tahoe,on its way to the American RiverParkway, it fights its way over, around,and through a dozen dams and miles of pipes and tunnels built by Sacramento inthe sixties.

A River at its Peak...By: Bill Center

A hydropower “relicensing” proceeding gave us thechance to do better by the river, and two months ago theSacramento Municipal Utility District Board of Directorsgave us one last chance to try and get through the final“impassable” gorge together. Pretty much every state andfederal agency and every NGO that ever touches a rivercommitted to be part of this last journey.

Those involved have agreed to keep the details of thetrip shrouded in secrecy. But I can saythat we saw glorious sunrises and soberingsunsets, and while our agility and flexibilitywere tested daily by Class 5 challenges,we stayed together and upright - a fantastic

journey by an amazing crew. Today I cansay that we succeeded. I am so very

appreciative of PCL’s help in bringingwonderful new light, movement, and lifeto over 100 miles of water-washed rocksand canyons.

Around the bend I’m sure I hear theriver celebrating.Bill Center


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It was love at first sight. Jean Crist knew she washome when she moved from the north shore of LongIsland in Oyster Bay with her husband Everett toFelton, California. “I felt the call of the trees and Iwas in heaven,” Jean recounts. It was in that momentthat she became an environmental activist.

However, her urge to become involved was put onhold temporarily when the family moved to SantaBarbara. After more than 20 years of service asphysical education teacher and a brief stint as a

medical transcriptionist, Jean and Everett retired tothe Sierra community of Magalia in 1990.Back to the trees and back to that call of the wild.

From her porch, this 81 year old self proclaimed treehugger and Prius owner, can see the beautiful SierraNevada. It is still beautiful because of her efforts toprotect the trees from over logging by some of thelargest logging companies in the West. For 10 years

Jean was the Presidentof “Protect OurWatershed” and keptindividuals and supportersinformed about loggingissues. In addition tothis effort, Jean wasalso the Secretary of “Save Our Gateway”(SOG) - a battle thatstill rages on today.

Though a memberof the Planning andConservation Leaguesince 1990, it wasn’t

30% post-consumer waste; processedchlorine free and printed in soy ink

PERIODICALSPOSTAGE

PAIDSACRAMENTO

CALIFORNIA

107 Ninth Street, Suite 360acramento, CA 95814

VISIT US ON THE WEB:www.PCL.org or www.PCLFoundation.org

until she was deeplyinvolved in protectingthe charming communityof Paradise that Jeanreally became anengaged PCL member.

Over the last fiveyears, she and othershave been battlingthe installation of a

Wal-Mart store at thegateway to this tiny town. Jean requested the assistanceof PCL who linked SOG with environmental attorneys.“I have been extremely pleased with the litigationresults thus far,” says Jean, and they’ve won the last twocourt decisions. However, the developer pushes on andthe case went for its second appeal in mid-November.

Jean’s commitment to the environment and to PCLhas been very much appreciated. Not only does shegive continually as a member of PCL, but she realizedthe benefits of naming PCL as a beneficiary to herestate. Thank you Jean, for your devotion, California isa better place because of people like you! Both Jean anI encourage you to join as a member and to considerPCL when planning your estate. Your contribution willensure our thoughtful work continues on for another 40years!

Jean Crist - A Self ProclaimedBy: Melanie Schlotterbeck

Courtesy of Paradise

ThePlanningandConservationLeague

Visit us on the web at:www.PCL.org

Documents

December 2006 California Today, PLanning and Conservation League Newsletter